Enhancing Hair Transplants

Hair loss, whether minor or more extensive, can affect young and old individuals, men and women alike for a wide variety of reasons. While some instances of hair loss are the result of genetics, others are the result of causes ranging from the use of certain medicines, to trauma, to autoimmune disorders.

While hair loss is not always an indicator of a more serious medical complication, many individuals who suffer from hair loss suffer from significant anxiety and a loss of self confidence as a result of their appearance, leading them to seek out various treatment options to either mask or lessen the severity of their hair loss. One common approach that many seek out to try and restart hair growth in areas of loss is undergoing a hair transplant procedure.

Here at Hairline Ink, we know that hair loss can occur for a number of different reasons, and that choosing a treatment option that works with your life and your goals can be an extremely difficult and personal decision. Fortunately, we have helped numerous people just like you find an affordable, safe, and guaranteed solution to hair thinning and hair loss in the form of an advanced treatment option called scalp micropigmentation. Whether used on its own or in conjunction with other treatment options, like hair transplants, scalp micropigmentation can help individuals mask hair loss, hair thinning, and even scars, to secure the look and self confidence that they are seeking.

About Hair Transplant Procedures

There are two main hair transplant procedures that are utilized by individuals hoping to stimulate the re-growth of hair on parts of their head that have experienced hair loss. The most popular is a procedure known as strip excision harvesting. This procedure works by literally transplanting sections of the scalp that are still experiencing hair growth on to sections of the scalp that are affected by hair loss. Depending on the extent of transplantation being performed, a typical procedure will last anywhere from four to eight hours. In these procedures, doctors will numb a portion of an individual’s scalp and remove 3- to 4-inches of hair-producing scalp and divide this into hundreds, or in some cases, thousands of smaller grafts. The location from which the grafts were removed will be stitched shut.

Next, surgeons will create small incisions in the sections of the scalp that are experiencing hair loss and insert the grafts into these incisions. Over the next few weeks, the hair that has been transplanted will fall out, but this is to be expected. Anywhere from 6-9 months later, the sections of scalp that received a transplant should begin growing hair naturally. In fact, some transplant recipients can experience as much as 60% of their natural hair growth following a hair transplant procedure.

Another hair transplant option is follicular unit extraction, or FUE. Although less common than strip excision harvesting, follicular unit extraction does provide a hair transplant option that requires less recovery time and keeps recipients from having a large, linear scar. In FUE procedures, much smaller amounts of hair-producing scalp holding individual follicles with 1-4 strands of hair are removed and carefully inserted into tiny incisions in the scalp. These implantations are done in a very precise pattern and arrangement to hopefully create the appearance of natural hair growth.

About Scalp Micropigmentation

Unlike hair transplant procedures, scalp micropigmentation is a guaranteed and non-invasive way for individuals to mask the effects of widespread or localized hair loss. Much like getting a tattoo, scalp micropigmentation involves the injection of small amounts of pigment underneath the skin in a widespread series of tiny dots placed across the scalp by a precise computer controlled system. The pigment that is added to your scalp is carefully matched to your natural skin tone and hair color so that when the procedure is finished, these dots create the illusion of hair that is naturally starting to re-grow on the head, much like the appearance of hair beginning to re-grow after a complete head shave or tight buzzcut.

Scalp micropigmentation can be utilized to help individuals with both minor or significant hair loss, covering the scalp entirely or simply being utilized to help fill in isolated patches of hair loss or hair thinning. For most of our clients, the scalp micropigmentation process proceeds as follows:

During your initial consultation, you will meet with members of our dedicated team to discuss your desires and to create a plan of action for dealing with your hair thinning or hair loss.

Once we create this detailed plan, treatment can begin on your first visit to our clinic. At this time, we will begin adding pigment under the skin on your scalp in the area or areas that you would like to see addressed. In order to help create as realistic of an appearance as possible, this first session will only involve a first pass at adding pigment to your skin. You may notice some redness on your scalp, but overall, the level of pain that you feel should be minimal.

On your second visit, we will fill out the scalp micropigmentation, creating the appearance of a dense and full head of hair. For many of our patients, this second visit to our clinic will be their final visit, and they will leave with a guaranteed solution to their hair loss or hair thinning concerns.

Depending on an individual’s unique circumstances, some clients will need to return to our clinic for a third and final appointment, at which point their treatment should be complete.

While scalp micropigmentation has a number of advantages over other solutions to hair loss, it can also be used in conjunction with a number of these solutions and treatment options in order to create a comprehensive approach. In many instances, individuals may choose to undergo scalp micropigmentation before and/or after a hair transplant procedure to achieve their ultimate aesthetic goals.

Why Use Scalp Micropigmentation along with a Hair Transplant

Many individuals choose to undergo a hair transplant procedure because they want to experience real hair grown in sections where they have experienced thinning or loss. However, as discussed above, hair transplants can take months before natural hair re-growth takes effect, and unfortunately, results cannot be guaranteed. In fact, some individuals who undergo a hair transplant procedure never experience hair re-growth at all, and are left with scars from their initial procedure and the same hair loss, or worse, that they had before they started seeking out solutions to their situation.

As such, an increasing number of both men and women are looking at scalp micropigmentation as a sort of “stop gap” before undergoing a hair transplant procedure. By receiving scalp micropigmentation in advance of a hair transplant, individuals can mask the effects of hair loss and buy themselves some time while they wait for their hair transplant to take effect. Additionally, should the hair transplant fail, the individual will still have a solution in place to mask the effects of their hair loss.

Even if an individual chooses to undergo a hair transplant procedure first, they can still receive scalp micropigmentation after their transplant procedure in order to fill in any areas in which hair failed to re-grow, or to help mask some of the scars that can result from a hair transplant. While specific timelines can vary from patient to patient, we recommend that individuals looking to receive scalp micropigmentation PRIOR to a hair transplant do so roughly a month before their scheduled transplant procedure. For those looking to undergo scalp micropigmentation AFTER a hair transplant, it’s best to usually wait for at least a year.

About Hairline Ink

Whatever your circumstances may be, all of our expert practitioners at Hairline Ink are passionate about helping individuals suffering from all forms of hair loss. Each member of our All-Star Team has personally dealt with hair loss/hair loss related confidence issues and eventually turned to Scalp Micropigmentation.

We at Hairline Ink truly view our practitioner’s work as a form of art and our talented technicians pour their passion into each and every client they work with. Having experienced hair loss themselves, our practitioners know just how emotional this issue is for individuals, and want you to know that we understand exactly what you’re going through. Choosing a potential treatment option for hair loss is an extremely personal decision, and here at Hairline Ink, every single member of our team wants to help you understand the full range of options that are available so that you can choose the treatment option that is best for your life and your needs. If you are considering scalp micropigmentation to compliment a hair transplant, you can trust that you are in the best of hands with our talented team of All-Stars at Hairline Ink.